Two Southern Tier businesses are getting a share of the $13.7 million awarded to farms and food organizations through the state’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grant program.
The funding was announced Monday by Governor Kathy Hochul and is designed to support middle-of-the-supply chain work to create a more resilient food system.
“Farmers are our lifeblood – they nourish our families and fuel our economy, and it is more important than ever that we invest in projects that bolster our local food supply chain here in New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program provides critical funding to make our food systems at the local and state level more resilient for years to come by investing in projects that modernize agricultural facilities, improve training, and facilitate the purchase of new equipment. I’m proud to support this great work and shore up a strong future for New York State.”
Peter & Hanna Martens Farm, LLC in Penn Yan will use $322,454 in grant funding to construct a new storage and packaging facility for organic dry beans and grains. Through the construction of the climate-controlled warehouse and bulk grain storage expansion, the farm will be able to install cleaning and packaging equipment for products like chickpeas, adzuki beans, golden flax, and pearled barley. According to the state, the infrastructure improvements are “expected to support an increase in contracted acreage of at least 50% with New York State farmers over the next five years, opening a market channel to regional distributors and institutions.”
Buttermilk Bean, LLC in Ithaca has received $137,440 to construct a 50×70′ sorting, drying, and bagging facility. It is anticipated that at least 15 small and medium organic farms in the region will utilize the facility. Buttermilk Bean also expects a five-fold increase in new market opportunities for beans and popcorn products.
As part of the program, applications for equipment only grants are expected to open soon.
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